Alternate Tuesday

7.00 pm to 8.00 pm

Bible Study Time

BEYOND THE COMFORT ZONE; EMBRACING DISCOMFORT FOR GROWTH PT.2

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A Peek at Moses – A Choice of Discomfort for the Fulfilment of God’s Purpose.

Exo. 3: 11-15�11One day, when Moses had grown up, he went out to his people and looked on their burdens, and he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his people. c 12He looked this way and that, and seeing no one, he struck down the Egyptian and hid him in the sand. 13When he went out the next day, behold, two Hebrews were struggling together. And he said to the man in the wrong, “Why do you strike your companion?” 14He answered, “Who made you a prince and a judge over us? Do you mean to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?” Then Moses was afraid, and thought, “Surely the thing is known.” 15When Pharaoh heard of it, he sought to kill Moses. But Moses fled from Pharaoh and stayed in the land of Midian. And he sat down by a well.

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Note: �‘Had grown up’ (gadal) in Hebrew = to become great, important, powerful. The Hebrew grammar is a ‘consecutive imperfect-third person masculine singular’. It denotes a sequence of ongoing events that connect to the present and continue to the future.�

‘Looked on their burden’ (siblah) shared in the forced labor, compulsory service, burden bearing.

"There are far, far better things ahead than any we leave behind.“

– C.S. Lewis

Heb.11:23-27

23By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict. 24By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward. 27By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible.

Fleeting Pleasure of Sin – temporary comfort

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• Ancient Egypt was the most powerful empire on earth in Moses time.

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• As a prince and potential judge in Pharaoh’s court, Moses had a life of immense power, privilege, and influence. �
• His authority extended into political, military, economic, religious, and social realms.

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• He held a position of high honor and had access to wealth, education, and relationships that could have set him up for a successful career within Egypt’s elite.

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Stephen’s testimony revealed this truth about Moses:

�Acts 7:22 – And Moses was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and he was mighty in his words and deeds.

Self-Centered Living vs. Self-Sacrifice

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His choice to leave this life behind reflects a significant act of faith and sacrifice, as he gave up the comforts and powers of the palace to identify with his Hebrew heritage and pursue the calling God had for him.

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• Moses spent 40 yrs of his life in exile –Living in Midian (opposite of Egypt – a poor shepherding community.

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• Introduced to a new way of life among a different people, where he learned to live as a shepherd in the desert—quite different from his life as an Egyptian prince. Midian allowed Moses to reconnect with his Hebrew identity and live a simpler, humbler life.

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• Lived a stranger for four decades. His first son’s name (Gershom ) revealed “a stranger there.”

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• Learned to trust God. His second son’s name (Eliezer) revealed “God is my help.”

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• Solitude and spiritual growth – Midian’s desert provided solitude, which helped Moses build stronger connection with God.

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What Sacrifice will you make to get out of your comfort zone?

God Works With those that are bold to step out

Standing before Pharoah was not only hard but brings memories of the great treasures of Egypt.

Growth comes when we trust Him in the place of discomfort.

Acts 7:35-37

35“This Moses, whom they rejected, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge?’—this man God sent as both ruler and redeemer by the hand of the angel who appeared to him in the bush. 36This man led them out, performing wonders and signs in Egypt and at the Red Sea and in the wilderness for forty years. 37This is the Moses who said to the Israelites, ‘God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers.’ 

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Exo.3:10-12

10Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.” 11But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?” 12He said, “But I will be with you, and this shall be the sign for you, that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.”

True Healing (Emotional or Mental) is revealed through Humility

• The same Judas that suggested that they sell Joesph(Gen.37:26-27), was seen begging for the life of his brother - Benjamin

Gen. 44:16 And Judah said, “What shall we say to my lord? What shall we speak? Or how can we clear ourselves? God has found out the guilt of your servants; behold, we are my lord’s servants, both we and he also in whose hand the cup has been found.”

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• Judas readiness to sacrifice himself for his brother is a complete turn-around and total restoration. They could not longer lie or deceive their father anymore.

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 Gen.44:34 For how can I go back to my father if the boy is not with me? I fear to see the evil that would find my father.”

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• At this juncture, I believe Joseph knew that the age-old animosity between the sons of Leah (Judah…), and the sons of Rachel (Joseph & Benjamin) was over.

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• God overrules human deeds, mistakes and failures to achieve his saving purposes.

Pride is symptomatic of a hidden and unsettled past that we are still obligated to cover up with a façade, (false fronts).

Gen.45:4-9 So Joseph said to his brothers, “Come near to me, please.” And they came near. And he said, “I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. 5And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life. 6For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there are yet five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvest. 7And God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors. 8So it was not you who sent me here, but God. He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt. 9Hurry and go up to my father and say to him, ‘Thus says your son Joseph, God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me; do not tarry.

More Examples of characters in the Bible who stepped out of their comfort zone

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